I’ve just finished watching the Facebook Live Event where they announced a new service, Facebook Places. Facebook Places takes advantage of the GPS technology available in most smart phones and allows users to “check-in” to places and attribute their news, photos, etc., to that particular place. This service will be available to some US users within hours via an update to their iPhone App and via their Touch Facebook Site. You can read more about it on the official Facebook Blog.
An important remark was made during the presentation by the VP of Facebook:
“Technology does not need to estrange us from one another…”
Basically, Facebook’s intention with Places is to allow users to connect with each other in the real world when they’re away from their home or workplace. Interestingly, this was one of the issues many Christians have with social media; that it deforms and replaces real-world relationships. Facebook Places may help, and after watching the LIVE stream, here are 3 ways I think Facebook Places could assist Christians as they seek to be “salt and light” in the world around them.
1. Reconnect with old friends for real.
Facebook has allowed people to connect with old friends from high school, an old job, or those you’ve lost contact with after moving house. The problem with Facebook in its present form, is this “reconnection” is normally limited to the online world via messages, chats, and wall posts.
Now with Facebook Places, if you walk past a coffee shop, restaurant, or any public place where one of your “old friends” has “checked-in”, you’ll be notified. You can then walk up to them, face-to-face, have a coffee, and connect for real.
Aside from a re-kindled friendship, you now have a genuine opportunity to be salt and light, speaking of Christ and what He has done.
2. Share your church experience with your un-churched friends.
Un-churched? I’m referring to those who have not grown up in the church, or not had exposure to the church. That was me when I grew up, and is the case for many of my generation (at least in Australia).
Sadly, Christians can find it hard to say they were at church on Sunday when asked by a friend or co-worker, “How was your weekend?” This shouldn’t be the case, especially as the fear associated with talking about your life in Christ is often unfounded. In our weakness, Facebook Places could offer a way to help (but by no means be a replacement).
As you and other Christians “check-in” to church on a Sunday, or a Wednesday night study, all your friends will get a glimpse into your church experience. They’ll see where you spend your time, and that every Sunday, morning and night, you’re at church. It may open the door for further discussion, especially if you’ve just walked into the coffee shop they’re in (see point one). You’ll be surprised how many of the un-churched are happy to speak about Christianity and “church stuff”, even if they have to bring it up.
3. Encourage those walking by to visit your church.
You may have experienced a friend rejecting your invitation to church. Maybe they said yes, visited once, and then never returned. For many, the idea of going to church on a Sunday morning and forsaking a sleep-in is next to crazy. That said, there are those out and about on a Sunday morning, and especially the afternoon / evening, going for a jog, walking the dog, playing in the park. If your church meets in a more urban location, it is even more likely some of your friends are out and about near you at those times.
Imagine if when one of your friends happened to be in the area when you “checked-in” at church, they were notified. They might then decide to take you up on the offer you made previously, or return for a second visit.
This raises the question; would your church be happy for someone who was out for a jog, sweating and in jogging gear, to come in and hear the goods news of the gospel proclaimed?
To be continued…
There is much more that needs to be considered. There will no doubt be many ways this technology will be abused and concerns regarding user privacy. If you’re interested, here are some essential tips to adjust your privacy settings. I’ll likely visit this subject again once I’ve used it and it has been tested more fully.
Social media and online relationships should never replace or be a substitute for real-world relationships. Being “salt and light” cannot be restricted to pixels. However, Facebook Places may be a way to assist you being “salt and light” in a lost and dying world that desperately needs to hear about Jesus Christ.
Don’t forget to join the discussion on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or add your thoughts in the comments below.
Update:
Here is the video demo Facebook streamed during their live announcement.
great post nate! really liked what you said about connecting people in real life.
i can see making towns or cities “smaller”–which is what most people love about small towns and those in big towns complain that there is not enough of–unplanned interactions w friends.
can’t wait to see where this goes!
Great post. I have enjoyed using FourSquare for awhile. It is helpful to see where friends are and to gain a glimpse into their daily activities.
One of my friends on twitter has tweeted interesting points during the sermon at her church. I thought the tweets were appealing and a way to reach out to the unchurched.
It would be even more impactful if we could use all of the means of social media to reach out to our spheres of influence.
@Brian: Thanks for stopping by brother. You’re right, this should (could) make our communities much smaller. It is sad (and I’m guilty of it) that even our neighbours are much further away, despite only being next door. We drive into our car garage and then we’re gone. We don’t play with our kids on the front lawn, and our kids don’t play in the streets. Our front yard has “moved” to our backyard and / or to our lounge room.
@Diane: Thanks for your comments too. I’ve not done much geo-based social media as yet. I’m excited about the potential of Facebook Places and look forward to jumping on board.
Not sure if I am that thrilled about tweeting during the sermon, primarily as it would likely distract the individual from the whole message. How can we be effective witnesses to the world around us if we’re starved because we haven’t personally fed on the Word that week? Something for me to think about though. Please stop by again.
You bring up some great points here Nathan. Very practical ways that you can use this feature to connect with old friends, or people in your community. I think this is going to be a great thing for people. They just have to get over the fear of sharing their location. We’ll see what happens.
Josh: Privacy is a big concern for many people, and understandable so. A lot of the fear comes from not knowing how it works, how the information is used, and how you can protect that information. I think Facebook is making huge steps forward in simplifying the process, and I’m confident as Places is developed it will be fine tuned. As one answer was giving during the LIVE event, Places is for “public” venues, so don’t go checking-in when you’re at home.
I have great concerns about privacy and safety. Imagine: “Hi, Facebook friends that I really don’t know all that well. My wife and teenage daughters are at Burger Joint on 7th and Main. You know where that is and what they look like. Sure hope they make it home alive.”
Plus, identity theft is rampant on Facebook. People refuse to listen to requests to drop their full date of birth from their profile. I have gone to profiles to try to “friend someone up” due to common interests and so forth, and I see their entire life’s history and ID information.
Stormbringer: You raise a serious issue. I’d respond by saying that’s why you should use Facebook for friends and family that you know and want to have access to your personal data. It is a shame that many are not aware of the various privacy settings available. I’m thankful Facebook has simplified it a lot from several months ago.
Also, did you know you can create lists on Facebook? Even though I know everyone on my personal Facebook profile, I still put everyone on a list; Church Related, School Friends, Work Friends, etc. For example, I uploaded pictures from a recent church camp the other week. There a pictures their of families and children that I don’t have the right to share with “everyone”. So, when I uploaded it, I shared it only with my “Church Related” list. My school friends and work colleagues did not have access to them. Similar settings can be done for Facebook Places too.
Thanks for commenting. I pray more people wise up to protect themselves whilst making the most of the available technology.